Psalms 36

This should be our great design, not only to have the ordinances of God, but the God of the ordinances. The enjoying of God's sweet presence with us here is the most contented life: he is a hive of sweetness, a magazine of riches, a fountain of delight (Psalm 36:8-9). The higher…

6. If you have assurance, be careful you do not lose it; keep it, for it is your life, namely, the comfort of your life. Keep assurance first by prayer, (Psalm 36:10) O continue your loving kindness; Lord continue assurance; do not take away this privy seal from me. Secondly, ke…

That which God and angels count glory, is true glory. 2. The glory of this kingdom is satisfying (Psalm 36:9). With you is the fountain of life.

Qu. 8. How many we sanctify the name of God in the use of Gospel institutions? Answ. 1. By a holy reverence of his sovereign authority appointing of them. 2. A holy regard to his special presence in them. 3. Faith in his promises annexed to them. 4. Delight in his will, wisdom,…

But suppose that God should in this world distribute rewards and punishments constantly according to what he sees in the hearts and inward dispositions of the minds of men, it is no less evident that it would fill all men with unspeakable confusions, and prevail with them to jud…

4. God's love is excellent (Psalm 36:7). How excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God!

Satan cannot but abominate his own thoughts of God, for he cannot think of him without torment; but 'tis otherwise with gracious hearts, that meditation which is the devil's terror, is their solace and support, God's name to them is as an ointment poured out (Song of Solomon 1:3…

Wisdom and goodness in Scripture language are but two expressions signifying the same thing. Psalm 36:3. He has left off to be wise and to do good, where the last words expound the former. More particularly wisdom in this place is that which the generality of the Jews rejected,…

But this only I intend; namely, that they will no more sincerely, immediately, and directly apply prayer to the mortification and ruin of that lust or corruption, wherein sin puts forth its power and rule in them: and where it is so, it seems to have the dominion. Of such an one…

But (says David) I lift up my heart to God, and that shall be to me instead of an hundred holes in hills. And in Psalm 36:6. "Your righteousness is like the great mountains."

They are "blind," (2 Peter 1:9; Isaiah 42:7; Luke 4:18); and they are "darkness," (John 1:5; 1 Peter 2:9; Acts 26:18; Ephesians 5:8); "their minds are darkened," (Ephesians 4:18); "they walk in darkness," (1 John 1:6); and "they love darkness," (John 3:19); they are "dead," (Eph…

The Holy Spirit sent Paul to open the eyes of the Gentiles, to turn them from darkness to light (Acts 26:18). The evangelical truth itself is light; and it is also communicated with those who are to believe, in order, namely, to open their eyes that they may see this light — or…

Look how far God's face casts down from heaven, sparkles of joy on us — as far goes our joy; and we are said in believing (1 Peter 1:8), to rejoice with joy unspeakable, and glorious. 4. There is particularly delectation (Psalm 36:8): They shall be abundantly satisfied with the…

If any man say Christ bought these, in regard that by his death, he purchases a dominion over elect and reprobate, that all knees should bow to him, men and Angels (Romans 14:8-9, etc.; Isaiah 45:[reconstructed: 23]; Philippians 2:9-11; John 5:27; Acts 17:31), so that there is a…

3. The third agent in prayer is the Holy Spirit: he is sometimes said to pray in us (Romans 8:26), sometimes we are said to pray in him (Jude 20). The Divine Spirit excites those graces in us which incline us to God; he raises our minds in the vision and sight of God; in your li…

For there are two things in fire, to wit, light, and heat: and as God consumes his enemies by his heat, so he also enlightens his faithful ones with his light. Now it is well enough known that God is sometimes called devouring fire in one place, and light in another (as Psalms 3…

“Pour la dernière et souveraine raison, et pour Justice parfaite;” — “for the last and supreme reason, and for perfect justice.” He frequently repeats, that his judgments are a deep abyss (Psalm 36:6); but we plunge with headlong violence into that depth, “Pour sonder ce qui y e…

So that not only the Persons are called spiritual, as having the Spirit of God dwelling in them; but those Qualifications, Affections and Experiences that are wrought in them by the Spirit, are also spiritual, and therein differ vastly in their Nature and Kind from all that a na…

We find that phrase often, A man of God, the Hebrews say, to call one a man of God, is as much as to say, he is an extraordinary man, a man of an excellent spirit, a Prophet, a holy man: In that Psalm where the Church is shadowed under the similitude of a Vine, It is said, She d…

Elijah the prophet did a raven feed, and with so much meal as could be held in one hand was he sustained a great while by the widow of Sarepta. For he cannot forsake them that put their trust in him, as witnesses David in Psalm 36 saying: I was young, and now am old: yet saw I n…

Indeed even as a dream when one awakens, so make you their image to vanish out of the city. And again in Psalm 36 he says: I myself have seen the ungodly in great power, and flourishing like a green bay tree: but when I went by, lo, he was gone: I sought him, but he could no whe…

The word here used for trusting, is sometimes taken for to repair, or to retreat to any thing, and not properly to put trust, affiance or confidence, and so it is rendered in the margin of your books: they shall betake themselves to it. So is the word used (Judges 9:15; Psalm 36…

And when clouds and darkness are round about him, righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his Throne (Psalm 97:2). And when his judgments are a great deep, his righteousness is like the great mountains (Psalm 36:6). We do not understand all the mysteries of nature, neit…

There's enough in God to satisfy the immense desire of the angels. He is omnimode dulcis, the quintessence of sweetness; in him all perfections are concentrated, wisdom, holiness, goodness: he has rivers of pleasure, where the soul shall bathe itself forever with infinite deligh…

So we are often to understand righteousness and covenant-mercy for the same thing; as Psalm 24:5. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Psalm 36:10 Continue your loving kindness to them that know you, and your righteousness…

"And God said unto Moses, I am that I am:" that is, I am the same that I was when I entered into covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and ever shall be the same: I shall keep covenant forever: I am self-sufficient, all-sufficient, and immutable. Now we may see the truth of t…

When therefore this chain, with which God ties men up, and sets bounds to their violence, is taken off, and men are insensible of any impressions from it, what will not their impetuous lusts make them dare to do? It is the Psalmist's observation in (Psalm 36:1), "The transgressi…

He who shows mercy on whom he will, and hardens whom he will, and that by a strong mighty will which no man can resist, he can find fault with no man, though he sin and harden his own heart; for his absolute sovereign will is far above me and my strength; but so does the Lord, s…

First, the choice mercies of God are communicated to his people: If you would have any share in Gods choice mercies, his peculiar mercies, come amongst Gods people, join with them: as that place is observable in Psalm 134:3 The Lord that made Heaven and earth, bless you out of S…

Consider, that this good which is to be had in communion with Gods people, is a special fruit of the loving kindeness of God; and would you not all be made partakers of the loving kindeness of the Lord? Thriving in your Trades, and outward blessings, are a fruit of the common ki…

No, no, Soul, you shalt want no joy; for the Scripture says, They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of your house, and you shalt make them drink the rivers of your pleasures; for with you is the fountain of light, &c. Psalm 36:8, 9. Qu. 18.

APPLICATION. Thus are the Judgments of God, and the Ways of his Providence, profound and unsearchable, Psalm 36:16. The Righteous is like the great Mountains, and your Iudgments are a great Deep: (i. e.) his Providences are secret, obscure, and unfathomable; but even then, and i…

It consists in two things. (1) When God infuses light into the understanding, so as we come to apprehend the things of God in a spiritual manner: (Psalm 36:9) In your light shall we see light. There is no discerning spiritual things spiritually, but in God's light.

2. There is a watchful eye and care of his providence over his people, whereby their life is preserved against all the dangers with which it is assaulted. God takes care of all his creatures (Psalm 36:6). He preserves man and beast; but man much more (1 Corinthians 9:9).

5. He is communicative, it is over all his works (Psalm 145:9). Not a creature but subsists by God's mercy, he loves man and beast (Psalm 36:6) and (1 Timothy 4:10). He is the Savior of all men, especially of those that believe, the whole earth is full of his goodness, Lord show…

[It is a fruit of faith] and supposes it planted in the heart, for an act cannot be without a habit: I suppose a man to have this grace before I require the exercise of it. [And it looks upon God in Christ] as the fountain of blessings, for otherwise God to the fallen creature i…

Now your transgressions speak louder than your professions in the eye of an understanding believer. (Psalm 36:1) The transgression of the wicked says within his heart that there is no fear of God before his eyes. Practice belies profession (Titus 1:16): they profess that they kn…

Admire his wisdom (Psalm 104:24). O Lord how manifold are your works! in wisdom have you made them all. Admire his love, Oh how excellent is your loving-kindness! (Psalm 36:7). Oh how great is your goodness, which you have laid up for them that fear you, which you have wrought f…

This is the lesson which is most legible in them, whether we sit at home in our houses, or go abroad, and consider land or water. Go to the animate creatures, the beasts of the field, (Psalm 36:6) You preserve man and beast. (Job 12:7-8) But ask now the beasts, and they shall te…

No, though we do not see the reason of it, yet it's just. God's judgments are a great deep, we should believe the righteousness and goodness of God in the general (Psalm 36:7), before we can find it out. The people of God have maintained their principle, when they have been puzz…

And every truly godly man is a hater of sin. The description and character of a wicked man is this, He sets himself in a way that is not good, he abhors not evil (Psalm 36:4). But a good man had rather suffer than sin, yes rather die any death than sin against his conscience: th…

1. It is true, it is a serene time with us, when we are so, and we cannot but be strengthened by the experience of it. A child of God must needs be abundantly satisfied, when he finds himself in the arms and embraces of his Savior, when Christ brings him into his chambers, and s…

Hence it is there is such a noise and [illegible] raised against the good ways of God's grace, and God's [illegible], that if ever he gives way to the power of them to have his sins revealed and [illegible] by them, he thinks he shall never have quiet more [illegible] and theref…

In this life the people of God taste of joy, but in heaven the full vessels shall be opened. There is a river in the midst of the heavenly paradise, which has a fountain to feed it (Psalm 36:8-9). The times we are cast into, being for the present sad and cloudy, it will not be a…

First, that God can fill the hungry soul. Second, why he fills the hungry soul. Third, how he fills the hungry soul. First, that God can fill the hungry soul; he is called a fountain (Psalm 36:9): With you is the fountain of life. The cistern may be empty, and cannot fill us; cr…

Matthew 25:21: Enter into the joy of your Lord — not only behold it, but enter into it. Psalm 36:9: In your light we shall see light — there is vision. Psalm 16:11: At your right hand there are pleasures forevermore — there is fruition.

3. The third ingredient into blessedness, is plenty; that which makes a man blessed, must not be too scanty; it is a full draught which quenches the soul's thirst; and where shall we find plenty but in deity? Psalm 36:8: You shall make him drink of the river of your pleasures, n…

Esau's tears as well as his venison came too late (Genesis 27:33-34). David would seek after God early (Psalm 36:1); Augustine in his confessions complains of himself that he knew God no sooner. They will hardly be able to run the heavenly race who have old age and old sins upon…

Here the Christian cries out in a divine ecstasy, I have enough, my Savior, I have enough. You shall make them drink of the rivers of your pleasures (Psalm 36:8), not drops, but rivers; and these only can quench the thirst. It shall be every day festival in Heaven; there is no w…

The lives of men tell plain enough that they say in their hearts, it is good being here, that they wish they could build Tabernacles on earth for all the mansions that are prepared in heaven. The transgression of the wicked said in Davids heart, that the feare of God, was not be…